EDGEWATER, Md. — Charging documents reveal a tragic deadly ending to an Edgewater couple's marriage.
James Strachan Houston was married to businesswoman Nancianne Houston.
In March 2023 a domestic dispute led to Nancianne obtaining a protective order against James.
A week later she filed for divorce, which was scheduled to be settled in January 2025.
Since the divorce filing, the estranged pair lived apart.
Fast forward to August 9 this year, when Nancianne visited James' apartment at the Pier 7 Resort Marina to fill out overdue tax documents.
That evening James, 58, called 911 reporting he and Nancianne got into an argument turned knife fight.
James, a medical doctor specializing in anesthesiology, told the emergency dispatcher Nancianne was not moving or breathing.
Arriving officers discovered James wounded on the floor in a pool of blood, draped over his unresponsive wife.
Nancianne, with a knife still lodged in her chest, died on scene. She was 47.
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James also suffered multiple stab wounds to the body, requiring surgery and five days of hospitalization.
Detectives soon learned the Houston's divorce was a contentious one.
Each sought custody of their young child, while battling over millions of dollars in marital assets.
Based off witness interviews investigators believe James tried reconciling with Nancianne, only to find out she'd begun dating another man.
With that, police charged James with first and second degree murder.
Online court records show Nancianne's family members were awarded temporary custody of the child.
Additionally, a judge barred James from inheriting Nancianne's assets pending the outcome of his criminal case.
A preliminary hearing is set for October 23. For now, James is being held without bail.
